From a non-runner to a distance runner!

Marathon mania has been sweeping across my social media recently and I really enjoyed the whole experience of the Brighton Marathon 2017. I started running back in 2015, I couldn’t even run for 9 minutes back at that point.

Running was a struggle for me as I was overweight and not at all fit, that is when I joined a local boot camp and started pushing myself to run with a group of mixed ability people. At that point I could barely run half a kilometre. Eventually over time, I started to hit milestones, 5km first and then I entered the London 10km event in 2015.

I found the London 10km quite daunting, it was a huge event but the crowds really spurred me on, back at that time I was just happy to complete the 10km and came in with a time of 78 minutes.

Over time, I have improved greatly with my speed and have worked hard in the gym and with my trainer @Get_Fli focussing on interval training and sprinting as well as mixing it up with some strength training.

During the time I have been running I have lost almost 10% of my body fat and improved my confidence massively. In 2016 I then entered another 10k and shaved 10 minutes off my PR time, I was over the moon!!

After the 10k in 2016, I decided to go for it and registered myself for the Brighton Marathon, I raised money for Breast Cancer Care and I really put the miles in training. On the day the crowds were unbelievable, although it was tough to the point of giving up at points, I knew I never would.

Running over that finish line was an incredible feeling. I really felt as though I had come from a non-runner, a couch potato, to someone that had really achieved something. It is a feeling I will never forget.

Running is for absolutely anyone, the running community are hugely supportive and although running is an individual sport you really get a sense of being part of a team. I would advise anyone who wants to run a marathon to go for it, follow a training plan and really anything you set out- you can achieve!

Some tips for first time marathon runners:

Print your name on your T-shirt- the crowd is everything, they will get you through by calling your name